Adjustable screen for automobiles



June 12, 1934.

K. I. MILLER 1,962,203

ADJUSTABLE SCREEN FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 5, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l 3 R & N

llllm 3y @ov irmelm June 12, 1934. MlLLER ADJUSTABLE SCREEN FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 & /f//VNEY [Me LEZ June 12, 1934.

K. I. MILLER 1,962,203

ADJUSTABLE SCREEN FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 5, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY I Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to window screens, and more particularly to adjustable screens for the windows of automobiles.

One important object of the invention is to proi vide a screen for ready insertion within a window of an automobile, or other window, the said screen being adjustable to fit windows of various widths.

Another object is to provide an adjustable win- (low screen comprising a parted, sectional or twopart frame, the said sections being substantially U-shaped in plan and positioned in a common plane, the legs of the sections being turned towards each other in endwise alignment and in II spaced relation, the said legs being connected endwise by slide-bars, there being a screen netting of any suitable type mounted within the two-part frame, and means being provided for contracting the screen sections, with separate means for expanding the sections against the action of the contracting means.

Another object is to provide a screen of the kind referred to, the same comprising sections arranged in a common plane and adapted to move towards or from one another for adjustment to various sized window openings, means tending normally to draw the sections together, and means for forcing and holding the sections asunder against the normal action of the contracting means.

Another object is to provide a screen of the kind referred to, the same comprising frame sections arranged to' move towards or from one another substantially in a common plane, screen netting covering the frame, means for neatly taking up the slack of the netting as the sections are-contracted, and means for expanding the sections across a window frame.

With these and such other objects and advantages in view as may be developed in the following specification, attention is now directed to the accompanying drawings as exemplifying certain practical embodiments of the invention, and wherein if Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of a screen constructed in accordance with this invention.

. Figure 2 is a top plan or edge view of the structure of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, of the inner ends of two opposed and aligned legs of the screen sections as slidably joined by the upper slide-bar, the latter being broken away 5 medially to show the upper end of i the tubular,

spring-actuated take-up roller and attached screen netting, and a medial section of the upper expansion rod.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the elements and portions of elements shown in Figure 4, fragments thereof being broken out to show interior arrangements and connections, and the ends of the take-up roller being partly in section.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section through a conventional window frame and slidable pane, showing also this improved screen as mounted at the inner side thereof.

Figure 8 is a detail of an overlapping frame assembly, including latches extended from the legs of one frame section and adapted to coact with series of slots formed in the opposite legs of the other frame section, for locking the sections to their out-thrust position in the window frame, this arrangement being designed for use in lieu of the expansion rods referred to in the brief descriptions of other figures.

Figure 9 is a detail of still another expedient for expanding the frame sections to meet the sides of the window frame, and to automatically hold the screen in place.

As shown in the drawings, the invention comprises a two-part frame made up of U-shaped sections 1 and 2, these sections being oppositely turned and arranged in substantially a common plane with their medial lengths or parts 3 and 4 parallel, and the parallel legs 5 and 6 of one section disposed in axial alignment with the legs 7 and 8 of the other section, the extremities of the legs being spaced apart as shown in Figure 1, in the construction of the device.

These sections are conveniently made of parted tubular stock, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the same being light and strong and well adapted for engaging the screen netting or screen cloth used in the structure. A sheet 9 of this screen netting is cut to size and so as to well fill the space within the sectional frame when same is expanded. This netting is rolled at its end margins and for thegreater portions of its side margins upon flexible cores lo equal in length to the length of the sections 1 and 2. These cores and the surrounding netting are then incorporated within the tubular frame sections by spreading the parting slots 11, inserting the cores and then closing the slots again, in a manner well known in the art. When properly mounted, the netting will nicely fill the two-part or sectional frame, and there will be a free medial portion of the netting between the two frame sections, as indicated at 110 9a. Flat, connecting slide bars 12 are slidably mounted at their ends within the open ends of the opposed legs of the two frame sections, as shown at 13, whereby the frame sections are held in proper alignment and may be moved towards or from one another, sliding upon the bars 12. The inner faces of these bars are bored out at medial points to form shallow sockets 14, within which are journaled the ends of a tubular take-up roller 15, as shown at 16. The roller 15 is slotted or parted longitudinally from end to end, as shown at 17. A long coil spring 18, similar to those used in shade rollers, is mounted within the roller 15, one end thereof being anchored in the adjacent slide bar, as shown at 19, and the opposite end being anchored in the adjacent wall of the roller, as shown at 20.

The free portion 9a of the screen netting is folded together to form a medial bight 21 paralleling the roller 15, and this bight or seam is seated and pinched within the slot 17 of the roller 15, the spring 18 having been first properly wound or tensioned. Thus the normal action of this spring is to rotate the roller and wind or roll up the free portion 9a of the netting, thus tending to pull the frame sections 1 and 2 together, or to contract the frame as a unit in a direction or on lines perpendicular to the said roller, and to draw the netting taut upon the same lines. A pair of conventional expansion rods 22, including the turn buckles 23, are extended across the intended inner face of the screen in spaced relation and perpendicularly to the roller 15, the ends of these rods being anchored at 24 in the medial end parts 4 of the frame sections. At the points of crossing the roller 15, these rods are looped or offset as shown at 25 so as to well clear the said roller. If desired, additional expansion or brace rods 26 with turn buckles 27 may be extended across the 'two sections 1 and 2, perpendicularly to the rods 22, the ends thereof being anchored in the legs of the sections, as shown at 28. Loops 29 may be extended from the rods 26 as shown at 30, to serve as finger holds for the manipulation of the screen. Suitable resilient linings 31 are mounted around the outer edges of the frame sections 1 and 2.

In the use of the screen as described, the sections 1 and 2 are contracted through the manipulation of the turn buckles 23, the free netting 9a at the same time being automatically wound upon the roller 15. The screen is then positioned within the window frame 32 inside the glass pane 41, and is expanded out laterally to meet the side strips 33 through the rotation of the turn buckles for that purpose. In this operation, the netting 9a is, of course, unwound from the roller 15 against the action of the spring 18. The turn buckles 2'7 and rods 26 afford means for adjusting the legs of the frame sections, and for relieving the roller 15 of pressure at its ends which might interfere with its free rotation.

In lieu of the expansion rods 22, the lateral faces of the legs 7 and 8 of one frame section may be provided with series of holes or notches 34, as shown in Figure 8, latch strips 35 extended across from the opposite legs 5 and 6, the free ends of these strips being provided with latch lugs 36 adapted to seat into the said notches. Thus when the frame sections are pushed asunder by hand against the sides of the window frame, the latch lugs will automatically spring into the aligned notches and hold the sections in expanded position. Or, as shown in Figures 9, expansion springs 37 may be seated within the channels 38 of the legs of the frame sections, the same having a bearing at their inner ends against the ends of the slide bars 12, as shown at 39, and at their outer ends against stops 40 mounted in the said channels 38. The springs 3'? would need be stronger than the roller spring 18, so as to spread the frame sections asunder against the contrary action of the spring 18. The springs 37 would then serve to normally expand the sections against the sides of the window frame, the same being first contracted by hand for insertion within the frame. The sections 1 and 2 are, of course, shaped to suitably conform to the shape of the window frame 32.

While I have here described and shown certain structural features and embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I may vary the same in details for best adapting the same to practical use, not departing, however, from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the kind described, a pair of complementary frame sections arranged substantially in a common plane and adapted for limited movement towards or from one another, slide-bars slidably connecting the frame sections at spaced points, a screen netting covering the combined frame sections in their expanded relation, the same being secured to the sections but not to the slide bars, and means for taking up the slack netting at the slide bars as the sections are contracted.

2. In a device of the kind described, a pair of complementary U-shaped frame sections turned oppositely in a common plane with their legs in axial alignment and arranged for limited relative expanding and contracting movement, a pair of slide bars slidably connecting the aligned legs, a spring actuated take-up roller journaled at its ends in the slide-bars, screen netting drawn and secured at its margins to the frame sections, the same being of sufficient extent on the one dimension to permit of the predetermined expansion of the frame sections in the corresponding direction, the free portion of the netting between the slide bars being secured to the take-up roller along a medial line of that portion of the netting paralleling the take-up roller, and means for urging the frame sections asunder against the action of the take-up roller.

3. In a device of the kind described, a pair of U-shaped frame sections having their legs turned inwardly in alignment and slidably connected for limited relative expanding and contracting movement on a line of direction paralleling the extended axes of the legs, screen netting drawn and secured at its margins to the frame sections, the same being sufficient to provide for the predetermined expansion of the sections, the margins of the netting being left free at the slidable connecting portions of the legs, automatic means for taking up the slack of the netting as the sections are contracted, means for expanding the sections against the action of the take-up means, and

means for adjusting the legs of the frame section in a direction perpendicular to the directional line of expansion and contraction of the sections.

4. In a device of the kind described, a pair of U-shaped frame sections of channeled stock, the legs of the sections being turned inwardly in alignment, slide bars having their ends slidably engaging the channels of the ends of the legs of the sections, a tubular take-up roller extended across the frame and journaled at its ends on the slide bars, the said roller being slotted longitudinally from end to end, a coil spring mounted within the roller and secured at its ends to the adjacent slide bar and roller end respectively, screen netting drawn and secured at its margins within the channels of the frame sections, the said netting suflicing for the predetermined expansion of the sections, and being secured within the slot of the take-up roller along a line paralleling with roller, the said spring being tensioned to normally tend to wind the free netting onto the roller and contract the frame sections, means for expanding the frame sections against the action of the spring of the take-up roller, and means for adjusting the legs of the frame sections outwardly or inwardly.

5. In a device of the kind described, a pair of U-shaped frame sections of channeled stock, the

legs thereof being turned inwardly in alignment and slidably connected for limited expanding and contracting movement, a spring controlled takeup roller rotatively supported in the frame, the same being extended perpendicularly to the line of expansion and contraction of the frame sections, screen netting stretched over the frame and secured at its margins within the channels thereof, the netting being sufiicient on the one dimension to permit of the predetermined expansion of the frame sections and being secured to the take-up roller, means for expanding the sections against the action of the take-up roller, and means for adjusting the legs of the frame sections outwardly or inwardly.

KINNEY I. MILLER. 

